Around the holidays, a lot of patients struggle more with their obstructive sleep apnea. While there are many reasons why sleep apnea is aggravated during the holiday season, these are the most likely reasons – and they are all ones you can avoid.
Alcohol Consumption
During the holidays, with parties and gatherings (which may be somewhere curtailed this year), alcohol is flowing pretty freely. If you tend to indulge in an extra drink here and there during the holidays, you may want to monitor how much you are consuming, because alcohol amplifies the effects of constructive sleep apnea and can make it more difficult to content with.
Overeating/Weight Gain
Extra weight can also exacerbate your sleep apnea symptoms. While it’s easy to be tempted by all the delicious treats available this time of year, the best course of action is to try to strike a balance between indulging in sweet treats and making sure you’re still eating nutritious meals and getting exercise. Maintaining a healthy weight is harder around the holidays, and rather than deny yourself everything and then overindulge, allow yourself to have some of your favorites.
Consistent Schedule
Between spending time traveling and being in an unfamiliar home, it can be difficult to maintain the habits you have at home. Traveling with a CPAP machine can be challenging – you may even opt to leave the machine behind while you travel, telling yourself it will only be a few weeks. Or maybe you’d already stopped using it anyway. No matter what, you should be treating your sleep apnea even when you travel or have breaks in your routine. As well, you may be staying up later to visit with family, and your sleep routine might be thrown off. Try to keep as much consistency as possible as you can.
If you are suffering from sleep apnea and struggle with a CPAP machine, there are other options available. The first step is to consult with a sleep health expert. Ear, nose, and throat specialists at eos sleep are experienced in treating sleep apnea with hyoid suspension. Call 1-212-873-6036 today or fill out the form on this page to schedule an appointment or to learn more about eos sleep treatment options.